State sales tax, what's yours?

Ron-P

So, what is it?

I'm looking for an average if it varies city by city. Mine was 8.75% but on July 1st it's dropping to 7.75%, state wide.

cstmar01

5.5%

steveinaz

State..I'm not sure; the city of Sierra Vista is 8.75% and thought to be one of the lower rates in Az. Arizona has certain sur-charge tax rates of course for "outdoor" gear (guns, ammo, fishing equip, camping gear, etc) in support of state conservation of wildlife--similar to sin-tax on alcohol, tobacco.

Ron-P

Just ball-park it. I'm just after an average.

sandworms

New York taxes, need I say more!

steveinaz

Probably 8.75% average state-wide.

rdb2001

9.25% tennessee

pstrev

6% in PA. But we do all our more expensive shopping in Delaware since its 0% there- and only 15 minutes away.

Pat

heiney9

8.25% in the City of Rockford. Downtown Chicago is 10% I believe. We have other smaller townships around Rockford where the tax varies a bit, no more 1% though. These are connected to Rockford proper and just crossing one of the major streets puts you in a different township; so for instance gas is cheaper on one side of the street since it's in another township which has different taxes.

But it's the same around Chicago and the suburbs and I imagine the same practice most places, that surrounding areas that are within 10 miles and connected taxes can vary.

H9

strider

6% in MD.

Another 3% on alchohol starting tomorrow.:frown:

exalted512

8.25% in Texas

disneyjoe7

Florida is 6% Orlando I think adds .5% for schools. So 6.5% for me.

heiney9

strider wrote: »

Another 3% on alchohol starting tomorrow.:frown:

Oh yeah, they did that too in the state of Illinois Sept 1, 2009.

Here is a look at the new Illinois Liquor tax rates.

Beer/Cider (0.5% - 7% alcohol) - $0.231 per gallon - about 2.6 cents more per six pack.

Wine - $1.39 per gallon - about 13 cents mor per bottle

Liquor (less than 20% alcohol) - $1.39 per gallon

Liquor (20% alcohol or more) - $8.55 per gallon - about 81 cents per fifth

H9

rooftop59

Texas is 6.25, but jurisdictions can up that as much as 2%. Here I believe it is something silly like 8.125. BUT Texas has no state income tax, so that helps (but we do get taxed on groceries, which I think is lame).

nooshinjohn

9.75 here in Los Angeles. Have I mentioned how much I hate this place?

tonyb

rooftop59 wrote: »

Texas is 6.25, but jurisdictions can up that as much as 2%. Here I believe it is something silly like 8.125. BUT Texas has no state income tax, so that helps (but we do get taxed on groceries, which I think is lame).

Why ? So far Texas seems to be getting it right. Didn't your state account for like almost half of all new jobs created?

heiney9

In Illinois tax on groceries is only like 1.5%, IIRC. The idea is everyone needs to eat so it helps the poor who are just squeaking by, I guess. Although Mc D's and the like charge tax. I bet more low income people eat at fast food places and still pay the higher tax rather than shopping at the grocery store.

H9

Danny Tse

nooshinjohn wrote: »

9.75 here in Los Angeles.

9.75% in much of the San Francisco Bay Area

bobman1235

Wow, places actually tax groceries?

For all the crap I give to Taxachusetts, at least they exempt food and clothing from their state sales tax.

unc2701

heiney9 wrote: »

Liquor (20% alcohol or more) - $8.55 per gallon - about 81 cents per fifth[/I]

I'm feeling kinda stupid here... Does the proof go into that, too?

polktiger

SC state rate is 6%, but local sales tax pushes it to 8.5% along the coast in SC
Higher if you got to a resturant, clothing is regular sales tax, groceries (not prepared food like bakery items) I think are 2%. AND if you are over 85 I think you get a .5% discount on groceries.
Looking at TN and Texes - I figured you guys would be higher since you have no state income taxes. Its a realy kick in the shorts to see our close you yours and we also get a 7% personal income tax.
Do TX and TN require Amazon and other online retailers with a location in the state to collect sales tax? I think NC and some of the states in the north east have started doing that.

unc2701

bobman1235 wrote: »

Wow, places actually tax groceries?

For all the crap I give to Taxachusetts, at least they exempt food and clothing from their state sales tax.

NC is like 2 something for groceries, 7 something for everything else. I think it's going down soon, but I haven't really been following it.

unc2701

polktiger wrote: »

SC state rate is 6%, but local sales tax pushes it to 8.5% along the cost in SC
Higher if you got to a resturant.
Looking at TN and Texes - I figured you guys would be higher since you have no state income taxes. Its a realy kick in the shorts to see our close you yours and we also get a 7% personal income tax.
Do TX and TN require Amazon and other online retailers with a location in the state to collect sales tax? I think NC and some of the states in the north east have started doing that.

If you have a retail presence, nearly all states require their sales taxes on the online purchases shipping to that state. (Tiger Direct has a store in Raleigh; I pay NC sales taxes for them; New Egg does not, so no taxes).

Some states have expanded that to any business presence; other states (like NC) also require you to claim all online purchases when you're doing your income taxes. PLUS they're going after Amazon. That one is probably going to wind up in the Supreme Court at some point.

cnh

5 percent state wide...no city variations in Maine.

Seems like the low here exempting N.H. where there is a zero rate on 'most' things? The problem is that Maine has an auto excise tax that is variable and decreases a little each year out to five years where it stops and remains 'constant'. This means that if you buy a car that costs 25K you'll pay your state tax on that and then pay over 400-450 dollars or more to register that car with the state. Next year, you'll pay maybe 350+ and the year after a bit less, etc. Registration fees discourage poor Mainers from buying newer cars whose value is too great and whose registration fees will be 'unreasonable' as a result.

The other factor is real estate taxes...property in Maine is not that expensive but unlike many other states, your property taxes are based on a fairly 'accurate' 100 percent assessment of the sale value of your house. I know in many other states property is NOT assessed and taxed at FULL value!

Most things excepting food staples are taxed here.

cnh

TECHNOKID

Over the State tax, does the US have National tax? IE: In Canada, you start with your municipal tax which is a percentage of your property evalution, then there is school taxes which is again related to your property evaluation, then Provincial sales taxes (which varies like the States), then the National sales tax is presently 5%.

IE: I pay approximately 1000$ twice a year for the municipal taxes, then appropximately 500$ a year for my school tax, in Quebec I pay 5% my good purchases, the goods total plus the National taxes are added and I pay 8.5% in Provincial taxes on that amount. If I buy in Ontarion I pay an harmonise tax of 13% on the goods (most Provinces uses that system except for a few. Quebec is the only crook that charges taxes over taxes).

We also pay tons of hidden taxes at the fuel pump (which is then taxed over the total amount). Same applies with booze, cigarettes and so on. How does this compare to the US?

Willow

As TK said we pay the BS tax at 13% on lots of crap

TECHNOKID

Over the State tax, does the US have National tax? IE: In Canada, you start with your municipal tax which is a percentage of your property evalution, then there is school taxes which is again related to your property evaluation, then Provincial sales taxes (which varies like the States), then the National sales tax is presently 5%.

IE: I pay approximately 1000$ twice a year for the municipal taxes, then appropximately 500$ a year for my school tax, in Quebec I pay 5% my good purchases, the goods total plus the National taxes are added and I pay 8.5% in Provincial taxes on that amount. If I buy in Ontarion I pay an harmonise tax of 13% on the goods (most Provinces uses that system except for a few. Quebec is the only crook that charges taxes over taxes).

We also pay tons of hidden taxes at the fuel pump (which is then taxed over the total amount). Same applies with booze, cigarettes and so on. How does this compare to the US?


Oh, of course we also pay an average of 20% - 40% income taxes (% goes with one's income). Again, in Quebec we pay National & Provincial while the other provinces has harmonised type income taxes).

rooftop59

Yes, in short its called income tax, as well as medicare and social security taxes. And there are also lots of sin taxes as Steve alluded to.

cnh

We do pay the taxes rooftop mentions but TK is asking about a National Tax on purchased goods which anyone who has visited Quebec, for example, has paid.

We may be moving toward such a tax...it is built into certain purchases such as gasoline, etc. And the recent stir regarding internet taxes--some would have an internet sales tax that is universal (I'm not one of them).

But there is no Federal Tax equivalent to state tax for the 'majority' of everyday purchases, yet.

I'm also certain that Canadians can match or exceed any taxes we are willing to list on this side of the border? There is NO shortage of taxes in Canada as I understand it!

cnh

rooftop59

WOW. national taxes on purchased goods. That's pretty radical. But there are tons are benefits to the Canadian system. FYI a good read is "Differences That Matter: Social Policy and the Working Poor in the United States and Canada" by Dan Zuberi, a sociologist. Although not unbiasied (I mean what is right cnh?) it really brings to light the benefits of the Canadian system. My students were VERY offended by this book! America's always better right?

exalted512

Where and at what level do you teach?
-Cody